DPS: Man arrested after using stolen vehicle in cross-county pursuit

Published 5:07 pm, Monday, May 20, 2013

A man was arrested Sunday in Midland after leading Department of Public Safety troopers on a cross-county pursuit in a stolen vehicle, according to his arrest affidavit.

Daniel Hernandez, 24, is being held on a $105,000 bond for a third-degree felony charge of evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, a state felony charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle and a Class A misdemeanor of failure to identify as a fugitive or the use of false information.

Hernandez’s place of residence was not indicated on his arrest report.

A DPS trooper made a traffic stop -- for speeding -- at 11:40 p.m. Saturday on U.S. 87 near mile marker 452. While the trooper attempted to have the driver get out of the vehicle, he fled the scene at a high rate of speed.

The trooper pursued the driver, beginning in Tom Green County and continuing through Coke, Sterling, Glasscock and Midland counties. Speeds reached 105 mph, and the trooper deployed several spikes. The vehicle lost both front tires, according to the arrest report.

The vehicle eventually stopped at the intersection of Industrial Avenue and Camp Street in Midland. The driver fled the scene on foot and was apprehended a short distance from the scene. The investigation showed that the vehicle was stolen in Wall earlier that night. The driver gave false information of his identity but was identified as Hernandez, according to the report.

Investigators also found there is a warrant on Hernandez in New York.

If convicted, Hernandez could face up to 10 years in prison for the third-degree felony charge and up to two years for the state felony charge.